Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS)

An Overview
ITS Overview

What are ITS?

Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS) involve the collection and

processing of data:
 to provide information;
 to advise or control the actions of:
 travellers;
 drivers;
 fleet operators; and
 network managers
 using computers with multi-media communications and
other technology.
ITS Overview

What Does ITS Offer?

 Allows improved use of existing infrastructure by:

 Providing a better understanding of the transport network
 Live traffic and travel information – quick response

 Providing new methods to manage the network

 Improved traffic signals and vehicle priority
 Improved intra/inter organisational communications

 Providing new services to the public

 Travel Information to make journeys easier and more pleasant
ITS Overview
ITS Overview

How Does ITS Help?

 ITS is a tool to implement transport (and other) policy

 Not an end in itself
 Not a panacea
 ITS can be beneficial
 On its own
 Supporting other measures
 ITS builds on what is there
 Not all new
 SCOOT UTC
 Flexibility to respond to changing priorities
ITS Overview

The Underlying Processes

Central
Data Communication Communication Information
Processing
Sources Link Link Destination
Unit

Information &
Monitor Acquisition Processing Distribution
Management
 ITS Overview

ITS Applications

 Two Main Categories

 Urban
 Inter-Urban

 ITS can also help co-ordinate actions

across authorities and networks
 Sharing data
 Enhanced strategies
Urban ITS
Improving Transport Within Towns and Cities
ITS Overview

What Challenges Can ITS Address?

What are those ITS solutions?

 Congestion  UTMC systems

 Poor safety
 Integrated services
 Accessibility
 Environmental impact
 Urban regeneration
 Speed limit enforcement
 Real time information
 Bus Priority systems
 Alternative vehicle routes
 Parking management
ITS Overview

UTMC
Urban Traffic Management and Control
 Based on a common database
 Can fulfil many objectives
 Costs vary depending upon the complexity of the system and its
requirements
 Designed for interoperability with non proprietary systems

 May include, for example

 SCOOT Urban traffic control
 Variable message signs
 Bus priority measures at traffic signals
 Real time travel information
ITS Overview

Integration - Sharing Data

Other Users of Information

Operators Common Other Systems

Terminals Database & Services

UTMC COMMUNICATIONS NETWORK

Signal Public Road Other Functions

Control Transport Pricing as Required
Priority

Emissions
VMS
Monitoring
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Data Gathering And Information Dissemination

ITS Overview

Data Gathering

 Data gathered automatically - in a variety of ways

 induction loops
 Cameras
 CCTV
 ANPR
 Floating Vehicle Data
 Information from RUC schemes and tolling information
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Information Dissemination

 Information available pre trip

and on trip
 Information for Fleet managers,
Network operators
 Delivered in a variety of ways
 Website
 VMS
 Highways Advisory Radio
(HAR)
 Information to your phone via
SMS
 Etc
ITS Overview

UTMC Demonstration Projects

 Early UTMC Systems now operational in Preston, York, Reading and

Stratford
 Largely a ‘Proof of Concept’ using UTMC specifications
 Different focus in different demonstrators – including VMS, SCOOT,
Environmental Monitoring, Car Park Guidance, Real Time Information

 Sizes of projects also varied

 Preston UTMC capital costs rated at
£1.5m
 York UTMC costs rated at £4m
ITS Overview

Speed Limit Enforcement

 Old style speed enforcement including Gatso wet film cameras is being
superseded
 Digital Photography
 Eliminates the need to remove and replace film
 Cheaper to operate
 ANPR systems
 Allows “Distance over time” enforcement
 IR photography
 Encourage compliance
 “Secret Signage”
 Intelligent Road Studs to measure speeds and advise drivers
ITS Overview

ANPR Systems

 ANPR:- Automatic Number-plate Recognition Systems

 Uses neural net programming for image recognition
 High levels of accuracy
 Technology used for other purposes such as London’s
Congestion Charge System
ITS Overview

Distance over time Enforcement

 Some speed enforcement measures cause rapid acceleration
and deceleration as drivers break in front of cameras
 ANPR systems allow vehicles to be identified at different
positions on the network
 Average speed between two points is measured
 Speed across the entire length of road can be enforced.
ITS Overview

Speed Warning Devices

 ITS provides speed control devices that are not aimed at

prosecutions
 Speed activated signs,
 Displaying registration of speeding vehicle

 Maximum appropriate and safe speed may be significantly

below signed speed limit
 Variable Speed Limit applications now being used
ITS Overview

Secret Signage

 Speed activated signs

 Flash speed limits at drivers
exceeding the speed limits
 Effective at reducing accidents
along dangerous stretches of
road
 Guidance is to use it as a last
resort
Inter-Urban ITS
Improving Capacity and Preserving the Asset
ITS Overview

ITS on the Motorways and Trunk Roads

 No longer able to keep building new roads to

accommodate predicted demand
 Need new ways to improve capacity
 Need to ‘lock in’ capacity provided by new /
improved road schemes

 Drivers want more information and more

reliable journeys
 10% of delays result from road works, 25%
from incidents
 ITS can advise of congestion and help
manage road works and incidents
 Safety improvements result
ITS Overview

Ramp Metering – Motorway Access Management

 Popular in America
 Used in Glasgow for access to
the M8 (introduced 2004)
 Used on the M6 for many
years – many new sites
planned
 Can increases throughput
 Can improve journey time
reliability
 Guidance on deployment now
available from the HA
ITS Overview

VMS For Strategic Management and Tactical Control

 VMS (Variable Message Sign)

Display selected information
 Can be used for special event
signing
 Warns of congestion and can
advise of alternative route
 Different sizes and complexity
 Controlled by NTCC (strategic) and
RCC (tactical)
 Automatic sign settings with signals
possible - linked to MIDAS
ITS Overview

MIDAS and VMS

 MIDAS - Motorway Incident Detection and Automated Signalling

 Uses induction loops to monitor traffic flow on strategic road
network
 Predominantly for queue protection
 Automatically sets signals and signs, including variable speed limits
 Good response: Average time till the system displays signs
appropriate to an incident is routinely before RCC is aware of
incident
 Signs and signals clears down automatically when flow returns to
‘normal’
ITS Overview

Hazard Warning Systems

 Companion System
 Intelligent Road Studs (IRS)
ITS Overview

Companion System

 Series of “companion posts” at the side of

the carriageway
 Radar detector in posts every 0.5 km for
automatic activation
 Posts can flash in groups – including
‘running lights’
 approaching the driver – to warn of
problem
 Away from the driver – to encourage
throughput

 Headways / throughput improves

 Secondary incidents avoided
ITS Overview

Intelligent Road Studs (IRS)

 Deployed on the M8
Between Edinburgh
and Glasgow
 Part of NADICS
(National Driver
Information and
Control System)
 Used for
 Guidance in Fog
 Surface water detection
 Incident detection
 Hazard warning
ITS Overview

 51,000 vehicles a day

 Cheaper than induction loops
 Improved visibility over cats eyes
 1 road stud per 18m makes the
route visible for up to 1km ahead
 Detector studs every 250m provide
information on speed and flow as
well as weather conditions
 Flashing studs give hazard warning
of upcoming incidents
ITS Overview

Active Traffic Management

A Trial of Different ITS Tools and Operational Regimes

 M42 Junctions 3a - 7: Birmingham

 Multi-Million pound project
 Uses the latest technology M42 J3a-7
 Not just Controlled Motorways
ITS Overview

Active Traffic Management

Not just Controlled Motorway…

 Access Control
 CCTV Based Incident Detection
 Emergency Refuge Areas
 Hard Shoulder Management
 HADECS Digital Speed
Enforcement
 MS4 Variable Message Signs
capable of displaying pictograms
 Possibility of ‘dedicated lanes -
including HOV
ITS Overview

Active Traffic Management

The reality

ATM Picture
ITS Overview

Active Traffic Management

Timetable

 Installation works now complete

 Three Lane Variable Speed Limits from Late 2005
 Four Lane Hard Shoulder Running from Autumn 2006
 Access Control: still to be determined
ITS Overview

Active Traffic Management

Education
Advert in Birmingham METRO:
Monday 21st November 2005

ATM Website: www.highways.gov.uk/atm

ITS Overview

Network Advisory Assessment Tool (NASS)

Summary

 Computer modelling tool developed by IPL

 Will be used by ATM Operators in the Control Room
 Predicts traffic conditions an hour ahead
 Match conditions to a library of traffic patterns
 Decide which one of three associated plans will have the
most benefit
ITS Overview

What is NASS
A screenshot…

Image
ITS Overview

What is NASS
Faber Maunsell involvement

 Working for WSP in Basingstoke

 Ultimate client is the Highways Agency
 Testing Phase B of the system completed
 “Offline” testing / proof of concept
 Phase C to be installed in the Control Room
 FM to develop strategies / plans to address incidents
ITS Overview

What is NASS
TRL SISTM Simulator Used in Phase B

 Used to simulate road conditions and assess Flows, Speed and Journey
times across the network with and with proposed Plan
 “Graphical” modelling tool available to the engineer / operator
 Each “dot” is a car!
 Colours show speed of each car

Image
ITS Overview

NASS Results
An example assessment of a proposed plan …
Journey times for Junction 3a to 4 Northbound

6
Journey time in minutes

Baseline Journey Times

4
Nass Run 1 Journey Times

3 Junctions 3a to 4 Speed-Flow Comparision

5000
2

200 4500
1

4000
0
06:00 07:12 08:24 09:36 10:48 12:00 13:12
3500
Time 150

Flow (vehicles per hour)

3000
Speed (kph)

2500
100
2000

1500

50
1000

500

Speed1
0 0
Speed2
06:00 07:12 08:24 09:36 10:48 12:00 13:12 Flow1
Time Flow2
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Integrated use of ITS – The Key to Success

 Better management / more efficient operation

 Sharing data – collect once, use many times
 Standardising equipment and protocols – using the best IT
can offer
 Reducing cost / achieving operational targets
 Dealing with information overload - highlighting what is
important
 Presentation in a digestible format and there when you need it
 Coordinating effort – knowing what is happening and who is
dealing with it
ITS Overview

Integrated Incident Management

ITS Overview